Vietnamese native looks to legal career in business law

By Sue

Oakland County Legal News

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By Sheila PursgloveLegal News

With English as a second language, Vietnamese native Nhan Ho is sometimes self-conscious about public speaking, but the recent Wayne State University Law School graduate certainly didn’t let that hold her back from participating—and succeeding—in the school’s Moot Court program.

“I enjoy Moot Court because it requires me to directly face my self-consciousness, which pushes me to work harder,” she says. “And, the thrill in doing a moot court oral argument is incomparable.”

Ho took part in the Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Competition in her 2L year; and also in the Wayne Transactional Law Competition, in which her team won the best drafting award (seller side).

“It was a great practical experience, from which I learned how to draft and negotiate a transaction,” she says.

In her final year, she was a member of the school’s National Moot Court Competition team, regional finalists that moved on to the national round in New York City; and winners of the regional second best brief award. She also was a member of the school’s ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, in which the team reached the regional finals and was awarded the regional third best brief.

All this was great experience for Ho’s future career in business law that launches with Miller Canfield this summer. Last year, she worked alongside the firm’s partners and associates as a summer associate, helping with litigation and transaction matters.

“What I enjoyed the most about Miller Canfield is its excellent work quality and collegial environment,” says Ho, who is interested in business litigation. “Even though I was new, I never felt uncomfortable. The attorneys are so intelligent and excellent in their work, but they are also very kind and friendly. I’m excited I’ll be returning after I finish my bar exam this July.”

Ho got a running start in this field by earning her undergrad degree in Business and Finance from Brigham Young University-Hawaii, where she obtained a GPA of 3.8 and was the recipient of numerous scholarships and honors.

“Business—specifically finance—is a combination of math, logic, and the willingness to take risks, which are all the things I like,” she says.

Deciding a law degree would widen career choices and opportunities she headed to Wayne Law.

“Now, looking back at the last three years, going to law school was the best decision I’ve ever made,”’ she says.

Ho gives a particular tip of the hat to the Career Services Office and her advisers—Kathy Fox, former director of employer development for Career Services and current assistant dean of admissions, and Tish Browning.

“Without them I wouldn’t be able to have the experiences I had through law school,” she says. “My advisers not only advised me through the employment process, they also encouraged me throughout my law school years and pushed me through challenging times. And, they are the nicest and the humblest people I know.”

Serving as a senior article editor of The Wayne Law Review improved Ho’s writing and editing skills and provided the opportunity to be published—her student note made print last fall.

“Participating in Law Review gave me the opportunity to work side-by-side with my classmates, developing friendships while editing articles,” she says.

In 2016, Ho worked at the General Counsel Office at DTE Energy.

“I was able to see a side of the law many law students don’t have the opportunity to see,” she says. ”And I met some of the kindest and most amazing attorneys.

They always tried to avail me with more opportunities to get involved in the work DTE Energy does, especially projects that involved or benefited the community. I learned so much and had so much fun.”

In the summer and fall of 2016, she interned for U.S. District Court Judge Victoria A. Roberts in Detroit, researching and drafting memos for cases on the docket.

“Judge Roberts is an excellent writer, and thanks to her guidance, my writing skills significantly improved,” Ho says. “I’m very grateful for everything I learned in her chambers and the kindness she and her staff showed me.”

During last fall’s internship for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Ho helped assistant prosecutors in researching legal issues and drafting appellate briefs for criminal cases, and had the opportunity to do an oral argument, under the supervision of an APA, for a post-conviction motion.

“I enjoyed my internship at the WCPO, working alongside some very nice and talented attorneys,” she says. “I also learned a great deal about criminal law.”

Ho, who is from the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, and who still has several relatives back home, lives in the Motor City, and in her free time enjoys shopping, watching TV, and hanging out with friends.